Chapter 16

Zade

Rain poured heavily outside, the steady rhythm of water pounding against the rooftop. Lightning flashed, illuminating the dark sky, reminding me of the day Vincent approached me during one of my favorite meals. That day had lingered in my mind for some reason, but tonight, all I wanted was to stay wrapped under my duvet, avoiding the appointment I was supposed to attend. I wasn’t in the mood.

A heavy knock broke the silence in my room. "Come in," I said, my voice low and tired. Vincent entered, dressed in his usual sharp suit. Without a word, he handed me a photograph. I stared at him for a moment, sensing that something important was coming. I took the picture from his hand, my curiosity piqued.

And there she was—Ashley. My brows furrowed slightly as I looked at her in the photo. Why was Vincent showing me this? My expression must have asked the question, because Vincent quickly began to explain.

"I know where Ashley is," he said, his voice calm yet firm.

I immediately sat up, the weight of the duvet sliding off me. "Where is she?" I demanded, my heart pounding faster despite my usual composure.

Vincent remained still, his face unreadable. But his next words were enough to stir the beast within me.

Ashley

Just in one day, everything changed. I had turned into a half-cast, and the weight of my reality hit me hard. I couldn’t bear to face anyone, so I ran straight to my room and locked the door. By now, the entire pack likely knew the truth—that I was mated to the Lycan King who had rejected me. Yet, despite this, I didn’t fully understand their fear. What exactly were they so afraid of?

King Zade was just an alpha, like Conan. But when his name was mentioned, I saw something in Conan’s eyes—fear. A fear I had never seen before. Could it really be that serious?

“Ashley, open the door,” Conan’s voice called from outside, pulling me from my thoughts. I hesitated, but then stood and unlocked it. He stepped inside, his face calm, but unreadable. He walked past me and sat down on my bed, just staring. His silence made my heart race. Was he going to tell me to leave the pack? Was I going to lose yet another home? The thought of being alone again was unbearable.

Suddenly, the dam broke, and I burst into tears. “I didn’t know it was this serious,” I sobbed. “If you had asked me who my mate was, I would have told you. Are you going to tell me to leave? I understand your fear…”

Conan’s face softened, and he stood up, closing the space between us. He pulled me into a warm embrace, patting my back gently. “Shhh... It’s okay, Ashley. It’s not like you knew him. This isn’t your fault,” he whispered, his voice steady and reassuring.

I melted into his arms, comforted by the fact that at least for now, I wasn’t being pushed away.

Conan gently lifted my chin, his expression soft as a small smile tugged at his lips. "You're not going anywhere," he said. Relief flooded through me. I had been so afraid that I would be cast out, rejected from yet another home. His face moved closer to mine, our lips just inches apart before he stepped back.

"The party is about to start. Join us," he said, leaving me standing there, frozen in place for a few minutes as I processed everything.

I needed to clear my mind, so I headed to the bathroom for a long, hot shower. I spent about fifteen minutes in there, letting the water wash away my anxiety. When I stepped out, I went to my closet, searching for something nice to wear. I settled on a white short dress. Without Mia around to help me get ready, I had to do it myself. I tied my hair into a neat ponytail and applied some red lipstick and a touch of blush.

Before leaving the room, I stood by the door for a while, my hand hovering over the handle as nerves surged through me. Would people look at me with hate or disgust? I took a deep breath and stepped out.

As I moved through the crowd, I could feel eyes on me. Some people didn't seem to notice, but others stared. Eventually, I spotted Mia and Gorg. They looked stunning in their matching blue outfits, and I walked over to congratulate them. "Congrats, Mia and Gorg," I said with a small smile. Gorg nodded back, but Mia’s reaction was colder.

She turned to me with a frosty expression. "I'm pregnant, Ashley. I don't want anything to spoil my happiness. It was nice knowing you, but the only way to save this pack is for you to leave right now. Conan can’t send you away because he’s in love with you, but don’t use that to your advantage. I know you don’t feel anything for him. Don’t endanger this pack with your selfishness. Our lives are at stake," she spat, bitterness dripping from her words.

I felt crushed. I didn't respond, just turned and ran back to my room, locking the door behind me. Her words rang in my ears, and I began packing. Maybe she was right. Maybe I was taking advantage of Conan’s feelings, and I couldn’t bear to be the reason this pack was in danger. If King Zade was truly a threat, then it was better for me to leave.

Just as I was about to step out with my bag, I ran into Conan. His face hardened. "What do you think you're doing, Ashley?"

"I don’t belong here. I don’t want to endanger your pack. It's best if I leave," I said, my voice trembling.

He sighed, realizing what had happened. "Mia," he muttered under his breath. "Go back and drop your stuff. Nothing is going to happen. Trust me—he can’t find this place. It's hidden."

"But what’s the history between you and him?" I asked. He avoided my question, taking the bag from my hand.

"Stay with me, Ashley," he whispered, lifting my chin before leaning in to kiss me deeply. I was too shocked to respond. His lips pressed against mine, and I stood there, frozen. He pulled back, smiling softly, and wrapped me in a hug. But I was still too stunned to react.

Suddenly, bloodcurdling screams echoed from outside. Mia came running toward us, her face pale with terror. "He’s here—King Zade is here!" she cried, tears streaming down her face as she glared at me with hate.

Another wave of shock hit me. "King Zade?" I mumbled, my heart racing. I ran to the balcony with Conan close behind me. Fear, happiness, and confusion swirled inside me, a chaotic mix of emotions.

When we reached the ground floor, the sight of Conan's men—slain, their blood painting the ground—sent shivers through me. It had all happened so fast. "Ashley, go back to your room and hide!" Conan demanded, grabbing my arm.

But then a deep, emotionless voice cut through the chaos, freezing me in place. "Get your filthy hands off my mate."

I knew that voice. Even in my sleep, I could recognize it. I turned slowly to see him—Zade, the Lycan King.

Before I could process his movement, Zade was in front of me, his hand wrapped tightly around Conan’s neck. "King Zade, let him go, please!" I cried, trying to pry his hand off Conan, but my efforts were futile.

Conan broke free from Zade’s grip, his eyes turning red as the bones in his body began to crack, the signs of his transformation. "Conan, please! King Zade, stop! We can settle this peacefully!" I pleaded, fear tightening in my chest.

Mia rushed over, her face streaked with tears, with Gorg at her side. Gorg shifted into his wolf form, turning to Mia to make sure she stayed back before he prepared to join the fight.

As I looked at King Zade with pleading eyes, the words slipped out in a broken whisper, “Please.” Tears streamed down my face, and for a brief moment, I thought I saw a some softness in his eyes. But that fleeting moment disappeared when Conan charged at him, with Gorg following close behind.

Zade barely moved as he struck Gorg with his elbow, sending me tumbling to the ground. His focus shifted entirely to Conan as the two of them fought to kill. Zade remained in his human form, his strength alone matching Conan’s wolf.

The air shifted as Zade’s nails elongated, sharpened like claws, and he aimed for Conan’s chest. I froze, unable to move, but Gorg intervened, pushing Conan out of the way just in time. In the next moment, Zade’s sharp claws plunged into Gorg’s chest, tearing out his heart with ruthless precision.

Mia’s scream tore through the chaos, piercing the air like a blade. “Gorg!” she cried, rushing to his side as his lifeless body hit the cold ground.

Everything around me blurred, and it felt like my heart had stopped. Gorg was dead. It had all happened so fast, too fast for me to understand. I watched, numb with disbelief as Zade turned back toward Conan, ready to strike again. Something inside me snapped.

“Don’t you dare harm him!” I screamed, fury coursing through my veins like wildfire. I could feel something changing inside me, my blood boiling with a rage I had never felt before.

Zade looked taken aback, his face softening again for just a moment, but it didn’t last. He quickly regained his composure as Vincent appeared beside me. Without hesitation, Vincent grabbed my hands, pulling me away. “Let’s go,” he commanded, as Zade turned his back and started walking away.

Zade was a monster. He had destroyed lives, killed Gorg, I was sure she hated me now, blamed me for the loss of her mate. And maybe she was right. I couldn’t shake the guilt that settled deep in my chest. As Vincent dragged me along, I stumbled past the lifeless bodies of Conan’s men, the stench of death heavy in the air. My heart ached with every step.

“Let go of me!” I screamed at Vincent, struggling against his grip. “I don’t want to go with you—I don’t want to go with that monster! I hate him so much!”

Vincent tightened his hold, pulling me forward despite my protests. I tried to pull away, but my strength was no match for his. He forced me into a sleek black car, slamming the door shut as I realized with dread where I was headed. Back to Zade. Back to the nightmare I had been trying so hard to escape.

As the car started moving, all I could think about was Conan—how I had brought this destruction upon him and his pack. I hated Zade for what he had done, but I hated myself even more for being the cause of this devastation.

Please forgive me, Conan. It was all my fault.